Jardin Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech
A modernist garden conceived as a controlled system of color, architecture, and botanical design
The Jardin Majorelle is located in the Guéliz district of Marrakech and was originally created in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle as a private project. Conceived not as a decorative garden but as a structured environment, it combines botanical experimentation with architectural composition. After decades of decline, the property was acquired and restored in the early 1980s by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who preserved Majorelle’s original vision while introducing professional conservation standards and long-term cultural management.
From a botanical perspective, the garden contains more than 300 plant species sourced from five continents, with a strong emphasis on cacti, palms, bamboo, and subtropical vegetation. The planting strategy is deliberate, based on contrast in form, scale, and density rather than ornamental abundance. Pathways are designed to regulate light exposure and airflow, creating shaded corridors and open zones that support both visitor circulation and plant sustainability within Marrakech’s dry climate.
One of the defining elements of the Jardin Majorelle is its controlled use of color, most notably the intense cobalt hue known as “Majorelle Blue.” Applied to architectural features such as walls, planters, and fountains, the color functions as a visual anchor rather than a decorative accent. Its purpose is to create clear spatial boundaries and amplify the visual separation between built elements and vegetation, reinforcing the garden’s modernist identity.
Today, the Jardin Majorelle operates as a hybrid cultural site, combining landscape architecture with institutional spaces, including the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum nearby. Visitor access is carefully regulated, with timed entry and defined routes to minimize environmental impact. As part of Marrakech’s contemporary cultural infrastructure, the garden represents a successful model of heritage preservation, botanical management, and experiential design aligned with international museum standards.
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